KOKODIAGBENE COMMUNITY PETITIONS CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF OVER CHEVRON’S ALLEGED REFUSAL TO PROVIDE ELECTRICITY

THE last may not have been heard over the issue of the provision of electricity  between Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) and the Kokodiagbene Community, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State as the community  has taken further steps by petitioning the Chief of Defence Staff over the crisis.

The Chairman of Kokodiagbene Community, Comrade Sheriff Mulade in a petition titled:” COMPLAINT AGAINST CHEVRON NIGERIA LIMITED OVER REFUSAL TO EXTEND ELECTRICITY SUPPLY FROM UTONANA FLOWSTATION TO KOKODIAGBENE TOWN”, implored the Chief of Defence Staff  to urgently step into the matter.

He intimated the  Chief of Defence Staff  that the community had written severally to the oil giant as well as carried out series of peaceful protest over the issue of the provision of Electricity for people of the Oil rich Community, lamenting that the Company refused to do the needful.

“Our latest peaceful protest against Chevron was carried out  February 1,2017 when our people stormed the Utonana flow station operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) protesting against the company’s refusal to supply electricity to Kokodiagbene community.  We want to let you know that  after  the expiration of the ultimatum that we gave, the Company has been perfecting plans   to set up leaders of the community against security agents, especially the Joint Military Task Force (JTF). And we have stated it categorically  that no amount of connivance, intimidation, oppression and threats of arrest will allow us to succumb”,  he wrote.

According to him,  agitation for the extension of Electricity from Utonana   Flowstation to Kokodiagbene came up  as a result of  an agreement reached between Chevron and host communities in 1998 and listed some of the communities that benefitted from the agreement to include Benikrukru, Keyangbene, Ogborodo and Aroton.

The Community Chairman also wrote; “Chevron promised the People of Kokodiagbene that the Community will be connected to electricity from the Utonana Flowstation, but up till date there is nothing of such. Upon the failure of Chevron to extend electricity to Kokodiagbene, the People of Kokodiagbene have carried out peaceful protests at various times at Utonana flowstation. One of these past protests prompted the attention of Chevron to supply the only teacher’s quarters with a 250KVA generator. Furthermore, as a result of the continuous agitation for electricity supply and adequate compensation to Kokodiagbene over a spill, the then Senate President, Senator David Mark intervened and referred the peace loving people to Senate Committee on Environment, while on his part, the then Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe waded in and invited the community for discussion and after hearing from the community immediately approved a high powered delegation to visit Kokodiagbene for an on the spot assessment visit and to see the level of poverty in Kokodiagbene”.

He added that;”The outcome of the visit was the sand filling project that is on-going to ensure that the Oil rich People of Kokodiagbene Town are given what is due to them.

Also, following past agitations, SPDC donated a 500KVA  generator to Kokodiagbene. The generator has since parked up, making life unbearable for the people of Kokodiagbene, and sadly too, considering the fact that the said Utonana flowstation operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited where they enjoy Electricity supply constantly is less than 2 kilometers away from Kokodiagbene town”.

Writing further, he said;”Kokodiagbene town is one of the most peaceful oil and gas bearing communities in Delta State and Nigeria at large, with a production capacity of over 250000bpd. Chevron Nigeria Limited has been operating in our land (Utonana flowstation) since 1972 till date with nothing to show for it by the community. It is good to note that Chevron.